TrueCar, Inc. revealed it expects a healthy U.S. auto industry in 2015 with sales of new cars and trucks rising at least 2.6 percent to 17 million units, the highest level since 2005.

“We see a convergence of favorable economic circumstances pushing auto demand up to pre-recession levels, including continued gains in the job market, the best consumer sentiment in eight years and low fuel prices,” said John Krafcik, president of TrueCar. “This year has been remarkable in terms of growth and revenue coming from big gains in pickup, utility and luxury vehicle sales. We think 2015 will be even better.”

Total market sales, including new and used, should rise 3.4 percent to 55.4 million units over about 54 million in 2014, continued TrueCar. This translates into $1.2 trillion of revenue based on average transaction prices, which is a 5.5 percent annual increase.

New vehicle revenue, based on transaction prices, is projected to reach $553 billion next year, a 5 percent increase over the $526 billion generated from an estimated 16.5 million new vehicle sales in 2014, according to TrueCar.

The average transaction price (ATP) of new vehicles in 2015 is expected by TrueCar to rise 2.4 percent to a record $32,589, based on the company’s own data. The used vehicle ATP should increase 2.1 percent to $16,678 next year. Used vehicle volume will grow 3.8 percent to 38.4 million units, up from 37 million in 2014.

TrueCar added it believes luxury auto sales will lead growth with a 9.8 percent segment increase, which should rise to $116.7 billion in 2015 over $106.3 billion in 2014. Non-luxury utility vehicles are projected to rise 5 percent to $192.1 billion, and pickups should reach $95.7 billion, up 4.5 percent.

“Ford’s redesigned F-Series pickups, Mazda’s CX-3 crossover as well as the Mercedes GLA luxury crossover should be standout models in their respective segments next year,” Krafcik said. “Mass-market cars, pickups, utility vehicles and premium autos—the four `Super Segments’ TrueCar identified previously––will grow next year, though cars will cede market share as more consumers move to utilities and luxury.”

Unfortunately, TrueCar did not get into predictions about the size of electric vehicle and PHEV sales.

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/truecar-2015-to-be-record-year-sales-wise/feed/0Tesla Aims To Conquer Japanhttp://www.hybridcars.com/tesla-aims-to-conquer-japan/
http://www.hybridcars.com/tesla-aims-to-conquer-japan/#commentsWed, 01 Oct 2014 20:20:17 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=199922As a testament to the company’s ambitions, Tesla’s Model S has been available in Japan since early September. This new market availability follows the introduction in June of the Model S in right-hand drive configuration to the UK market. Japan, like the UK, requires drivers to be on the right side of the cockpit, as […]

]]>As a testament to the company’s ambitions, Tesla’s Model S has been available in Japan since early September.

This new market availability follows the introduction in June of the Model S in right-hand drive configuration to the UK market. Japan, like the UK, requires drivers to be on the right side of the cockpit, as is the case in many other countries, including Australia.

The Model S has been available since early September in Japan, and the availability coincided with the opening of two Superchargers.

According to the map published by Tesla and shown bellow, the company has the intention of having in function at least 19 Superchargers in Japan by the end of 2015. The map also indicates where Tesla wants to have Superchargers in China by the end of 2015.

Tesla’s planned Asian Superchargers network by the end of 2015

The big news here is the fact a U.S.-based automotive manufacturer is entering the Japanese market. This market is been almost closed to foreign automakers. According to numbers published by the JADA, in 2013, 96 percent of all vehicle sales in Japan were from Japanese manufacturers.

The other four percent is shared between different European manufacturers, with the exception of, according to a Forbes article, roughly 1,000 units sold by GM.

Tesla’s big asset to break into the Japanese market relies on a few key aspects: its relationship with Panasonic and Toyota; its innovative, different high-tech image; and the fact Japan is stuck when it comes to EV and PHEV. The limited openness aspect of its market means there is currently only seven plug-in electric vehicles sold there, including the introduction of the Model S. In comparison, many markets see around 20 plug-in electric vehicles vehicles offered, with Norway at the top with 24.

Tesla does have quite the task in front of them to be successful. Will this energize PHEV production and interest from Japanese manufacturers?

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/tesla-aims-to-conquer-japan/feed/0Buying A Car: Steps To Help Next Purchasehttp://www.hybridcars.com/buying-a-car-steps-to-help-next-purchase/
http://www.hybridcars.com/buying-a-car-steps-to-help-next-purchase/#commentsMon, 14 Apr 2014 04:15:41 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=138073Buying a car is considered one of the biggest purchases you make in a lifetime after a house and this applies to any vehicle, including hybrids, EV and diesel-powered ones. There are many things to consider before hitting the sales lot and filling out the paperwork when searching for the perfect car to fit your […]

]]>Buying a car is considered one of the biggest purchases you make in a lifetime after a house and this applies to any vehicle, including hybrids, EV and diesel-powered ones.

There are many things to consider before hitting the sales lot and filling out the paperwork when searching for the perfect car to fit your personal needs,

Edmunds compiled the following tips to simplify the car buying process and help improve your overall shopping experience.

Determine Budget

Before getting your heart set on a car that could break the bank, you need to calculate your estimated price range. To avoid getting in over your head, follow the general rule of thumb that payments shouldn’t exceed more than 20 percent of your monthly take-home pay.

Do Your Research

Start your search on sites that allow you to browse and compare vehicles from various automakers side by side, so you can learn how they stack up.

Decide What Is Right For You

The type of car you choose should reflect your lifestyle. Narrow your options by considering how you’ll use the car on a daily basis. Ask yourself questions, like how many passengers you’ll need to accommodate; whether you typically drive on the highway, in the city or off-road; and how much cargo space you’ll need.

Browse Inventory Online

Before heading out the door, review a listing of the available cars in your area from the comfort of your own home.

Secure the Price

Once you’ve found the car you would like to purchase, the next step is to obtain price quotes from a few different dealers and compare them with the market value.

Edmunds said you can bypass the negotiation process and secure a fair price upfront by getting an Edmunds Price Promise certificate, which is a dealer guaranteed, vehicle specific price quote. Take the price certificate along with you to the dealer to simplify the purchasing process.

Once you have the car in mind and a price in hand, arrange for a test drive and move forward with the purchase.

Edmunds as well as most automotive experts believe that by following these tips before you step foot on the sales lot, the entire car buying process should be a more enjoyable experience.

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/buying-a-car-steps-to-help-next-purchase/feed/0Hybrids Key To Toyota Canada’s Record Julyhttp://www.hybridcars.com/hybrids-key-to-toyota-canadas-record-july/
http://www.hybridcars.com/hybrids-key-to-toyota-canadas-record-july/#commentsFri, 02 Aug 2013 13:41:55 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=62733Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) sold 17,734 vehicles in July, up 12.1 percent versus 2012, led by record-setting sales of trucks and hybrids. Toyota’s luxury division, Lexus Canada sold 1,446 vehicles for the month of July, up 30.6 percent versus the same period last year. Toyota Canada said it saw record July sales. TCI had sales […]

July was also a record month for Toyota truck sales, including the Toyota RAV4 with 2,751 sold, an increase of 25.6 percent. This marks the sixth consecutive month of record sales of the all-new RAV4. In addition, there were 1,053 Tacoma trucks sold, an increase of 46.7 percent.

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/hybrids-key-to-toyota-canadas-record-july/feed/0Diesel Power And Small Vehicles Prove Popular For Mercedes-Benz Canadahttp://www.hybridcars.com/diesel-power-and-small-vehicles-prove-popular-for-mercedes-benz-canada/
http://www.hybridcars.com/diesel-power-and-small-vehicles-prove-popular-for-mercedes-benz-canada/#commentsFri, 02 Aug 2013 13:41:40 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=62730With over 78 percent take rate for diesel on light trucks, over 230 smart vehicle sold and over 300 Sprinters, July proved Diesel and small cars are the way to success for Mercedes-Benz in Canada. Mercedes-Benz Canada has delivered 3,129 Mercedes-Benz, Sprinter and smart vehicles throughout the month of July. These results represent an increase […]

]]>With over 78 percent take rate for diesel on light trucks, over 230 smart vehicle sold and over 300 Sprinters, July proved Diesel and small cars are the way to success for Mercedes-Benz in Canada.

Mercedes-Benz Canada has delivered 3,129 Mercedes-Benz, Sprinter and smart vehicles throughout the month of July. These results represent an increase of 18.8 percent for the month.

Overall, a total of 20,650 units have been sold year-to-date by the Mercedes-Benz Canada network of corporate retail stores and private dealers.

Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and luxury light trucks recorded 2,583 units retailed. This is ahead of last July’s sales by 18.0 percent, and helped push total sales to 17,804 vehicles this year.

A total of 1,600 passenger cars were delivered, which amounts to a 24.1percent increase for the month. The C-Class continued to be the top seller with 942 units sold.

On the luxury light trucks side, sales were up 9.2 percent for the month with a total of 983 units. Mercedes-Benz Canada said this was fueled by continued brisk demand for the GLK-Class and M-Class, which were ahead by 19.2 percent and 10.7 percent respectively in July. The GL-Class also had another strong month, which helped thrust sales ahead by 35.6 percent on a year-to-date basis.

The diesel take rate for luxury light trucks was 78.5 percent for the month, while permanent all-wheel drive 4MATIC units accounted for 80.3 percent of overall passenger car and light truck sales in July (excluding smart).

smart reported a total of 235 vehicles sold throughout the month, including 25 zero local-emission smart fortwo electric drive units. According to Mercedes-Benz Canada, this game-changing intelligent transportation solution has been very well-received by Canadians, with 78 units sold since the official start of deliveries in April.

A total of 311 Mercedes-Benz Sprinters were delivered in July. This represents a 51.7 percent increase for the month, and propelled overall growth for the division to 27.3 percent with 2,008 vehicles retailed.

“I am delighted that our efforts to provide Canadians with the right product line-up has increased traffic in our showrooms and ultimately impacted sales,” said Christian Meunier, President, Nissan Canada Inc. “With the all-new products like the recently launched Nissan Versa Note and the Infiniti Q50 coming soon, we’re excited to build on this momentum into the second half of the year.”

Compacts did well for the brand. The Nissan Sentra was the strongest seller in the line-up with a 32.9 percent year-over-year increase and 1,511 units sold.

With the first full month of availability of the all-new Versa Note, Nissan Versa sales increased 37.7 percent over last year with 1,242 units sold.

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/leaf-sees-82-percent-sale-increase-for-july-in-canada/feed/0Best Hybrid Sales Quarter Ever For Fordhttp://www.hybridcars.com/best-hybrid-sales-quarter-ever-for-ford/
http://www.hybridcars.com/best-hybrid-sales-quarter-ever-for-ford/#commentsWed, 10 Apr 2013 05:21:52 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=56977Ford said today it delivered its best hybrid sales quarter ever in the first quarter of 2013 with sales totaling 21,080 vehicles – marking the first time Ford has sold more than 20,000 hybrids in a quarter. Ford’s hybrid sales were up 324 percent nationally over 2012, achieving 16 percent share of the electrified vehicle […]

]]>Ford said today it delivered its best hybrid sales quarter ever in the first quarter of 2013 with sales totaling 21,080 vehicles – marking the first time Ford has sold more than 20,000 hybrids in a quarter.

Ford’s hybrid sales were up 324 percent nationally over 2012, achieving 16 percent share of the electrified vehicle market – up from 4 percent last year.

This was the first quarter in which Ford offered all four of its new hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, including Fusion Hybrid, Fusion Energi, C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi.

Ford’s first hybrid offerings went on sale in October 2004, nearly a decade ago.

This record sales quarter was driven by the C-MAX hybrids and Fusion hybrids. Ford said the company’s new hybrids offer is attracting an entirely new group of customers to Ford showrooms.

According to the company, three out of four customers in key hybrid markets are coming from other brands.

One quarter of electrified vehicles sold in the United States in 2012 were purchased in California – more than any other state – and increasingly these customers are opting for a Ford-brand vehicle.

Since the new 2013 Fusion Hybrid went on sale last fall, 73 percent of the car’s customers in the Los Angeles area are new to the Ford brand. In the San Francisco area, 77 percent of Fusion Hybrid customers are coming from another brand.

Four months ago Los Angeles-based Eddie Sasaki replaced his Jeep Wrangler with a Fusion Hybrid after checking out the Chevrolet Volt and Kia Optima Hybrid. “I love the look of the Fusion,” says Sasaki. “Fusion’s overall appearance and value are what sold me.” So far Sasaki is averaging about 42 mpg on his 40-mile daily commute.

Toyota remains the top conquest brand for both Fusion Hybrid and C-MAX hybrids. Ford said initial sales data show C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi are also bringing new customers to Ford, with conquest rates remaining above 60 percent since the vehicles hit the market in 2012.

Currently, Ford said the Prius and Honda CR-V remain the top two competitive trade-ins for C-MAX Hybrid.

Fusion hybrids are also attracting the youngest wave of customers in the midsize segment. More than one in five buyers of Fusion Hybrid and Fusion Energi are under 36 years old.

Ford’s electrified vehicles are also attracting customers in areas that have traditionally shied away from hybrids, including Texas, Florida and the central region.

One-third of all C-MAX sales are in the Midwest, where hybrid sales have historically been lower.

Early buyer data from industry analytics firm J.D. Power indicate design and technology are among the top reasons customers are choosing the Fusion Hybrid over the competition.

Interestingly, 70 percent of all Fusion Hybrids are equipped with the MyFord Touch package compared to just 50 percent on the conventional Fusion; BLIS and Lane-Keeping System are installed on 31 percent of hybrids, double the rate of the conventional Fusion; meanwhile, 12 percent of hybrid customers select active park assist, compared to 7 percent for the conventional Fusion

Ford also found that C-MAX Hybrid customers are also far more likely to load up their vehicles. Vehicles equipped with technology packages on C-MAX Hybrid move off dealer lots three times faster than those without; 27 percent of C-MAX customers get the panoramic fixed-glass roof; and more than three out of four customers choose the hands-free liftgate.

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/best-hybrid-sales-quarter-ever-for-ford/feed/0Nissan’s Leaf Is Popular In Norwayhttp://www.hybridcars.com/nissans-leaf-is-popular-in-norway/
http://www.hybridcars.com/nissans-leaf-is-popular-in-norway/#commentsWed, 10 Apr 2013 04:59:23 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=56966Scandinavia turns out to be an area of success for Nissan’s electric vehicle, the Leaf. No country has sold more Nissan Leaf per capita than Norway, with Nissan’s EV taking 1.7 percent of all vehicle sales in 2012, its first full year on sale in this Nordic country. The country has embraced zero emission mobility […]

]]>Scandinavia turns out to be an area of success for Nissan’s electric vehicle, the Leaf.

No country has sold more Nissan Leaf per capita than Norway, with Nissan’s EV taking 1.7 percent of all vehicle sales in 2012, its first full year on sale in this Nordic country.

The country has embraced zero emission mobility like no other. The Nissan Leaf was Norway’s 13th best selling new car with almost 2,298 examples registered in 2012.

More impressively yet, the Leaf is the second best selling car overall in Trondheim, Norway’s second largest city behind Oslo.

In total, more than 3,300 units have been sold in Norway since the battery-powered electric car went on sale in October 2011, and last year it was Nissan’s second most popular model in the country with sales just 599 units behind the Qashqai CUV.

Nissan said that part of the reason for its success is that Norway’s five million inhabitants are among the most environmentally aware in the world and all have access to power created from renewable energy – hydroelectric plants generate 99 percent the country’s electricity, more than in any other country in the world.

Incentives do help. Sales of the Nissan Leaf have also been boosted by the incentives open to buyers and drivers of electric vehicles in Norway. There’s no value added tax (VAT) on the car’s purchase price and no road tax to pay.

Toll roads, tunnels and ferries are mostly free to EV drivers while any driver commuting to work in an EV in Norway is allowed to use bus lanes; a typical rush hour drive might take as little as 20 minutes in a Nissan Leaf compared to over an hour in a conventionally powered car.

The EV driver also benefits from free parking while dedicated EV parking spaces usually include access to a charging post — and the electricity is free, of course.

Norway, in common with Nordic nations Sweden, Finland and Denmark, also has a growing network of Quick Chargers to allow EV drivers to tackle longer journeys.

Quick chargers, which allow a depleted battery to be recharged to 80 percent of its capacity in as little as 30 minutes, can be found in shopping malls and car parks.

A link has recently been established with McDonalds Restaurants, which will be installing Quick Chargers in its car parkings, allowing EV drivers to recharge their car’s batteries while they recharge their own, a blend of Fast Food and Fast Charging.

Currently Norway has around 3,500 publicly accessible AC normal chargers and 65 publicly accessible DC quick chargers, and by the end of 2013 there will be more than 200 DC quick chargers across Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.

Norway has also seen some notable EV firsts, such as young mum Solveig Marie Ødegård who passed her driving test in 2012 behind the wheel of a driving school’s Nissan Leaf.

The real significance, however, is not simply that she passed her test in an EV, but that she has never driven a car powered by an internal combustion engine in her life.

Her first car? A new Nissan Leaf, of course.

Increasing EV sales mean there’s a growing band of enthusiastic owners keen to compare notes with likeminded people so Norway has an active EV organization with a lively discussion forum. Membership of the forum is included in the purchase price of every Nissan Leaf sold in the country.

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/nissans-leaf-is-popular-in-norway/feed/0SKYACTIV Technology Represents 55 Percent Of February Sales For Mazda Canadahttp://www.hybridcars.com/skyactiv-technology-represents-55-percent-of-february-sales-for-mazda-canada/
http://www.hybridcars.com/skyactiv-technology-represents-55-percent-of-february-sales-for-mazda-canada/#commentsMon, 04 Mar 2013 05:54:27 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=54694Mazda Canada announced sales for February 2013 Friday totaling 4,833 units, which represents an increase of 2 percent compared to February 2012. The all-new 2014 Mazda6 had its first full month on sale and increased sales by 219 percent over February 2012. The refreshed 2013 CX-9 also experienced record February sales, jumping 176 percent over […]

]]>http://www.hybridcars.com/skyactiv-technology-represents-55-percent-of-february-sales-for-mazda-canada/feed/0Prius Most Popular Automotive Badge In California For 2012http://www.hybridcars.com/prius-most-popular-automotive-badge-in-california-for-2012/
http://www.hybridcars.com/prius-most-popular-automotive-badge-in-california-for-2012/#commentsFri, 01 Mar 2013 16:33:14 +0000http://www.hybridcars.com/?p=54652Californians who have the impression they see Toyota’s Prius everywhere are not far from the truth. Toyota’s Prius-badged vehicles were the most popular new vehicles with California drivers during the 2012 calendar year. According to R.L Polk, the Prius family cars, which included the Prius Liftback, Prius v, Prius Plug-in, and Prius c, accounted for […]

]]>Californians who have the impression they see Toyota’s Prius everywhere are not far from the truth.

Toyota’s Prius-badged vehicles were the most popular new vehicles with California drivers during the 2012 calendar year.

According to R.L Polk, the Prius family cars, which included the Prius Liftback, Prius v, Prius Plug-in, and Prius c, accounted for 61,893 vehicles registered in California. This makes the Prius the No. 1 vehicle badge sold in the south-western state.

This is in line with the trend shown by the state’s consumers who are adopting gasoline-electric hybrid technology and putting more of these vehicles on the road.

“Consumers are drawn to the Prius vehicles because of the brand’s focus on efficiency,” said Bill Fay, group vice president and general manager of Toyota Motor Sales, Inc. “All four distinct Prius models offer outstanding fuel economy.”